as in spectators
someone who sees or watches something
bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bystanders
In the footage, a man can be seen pinning a visibly bloodied man to the ground and attacking him multiple times before bystanders and police officers managed to subdue him.
—
Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Some of the victims were intentionally targeted, but the majority were innocent bystanders, Kapszukiewicz said.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Next to a convenience store just outside police tape, a small group of bystanders watched officers survey the area.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Once down, bystanders quickly rushed to his aid.
—Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
Two bystanders intervened after hearing the woman’s cries for help, deputies said.
—Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026
Several friends dragged Andrade back to shore, while one held his airway together with their hands, and strangers and bystanders helped keep him alive until emergency services arrived.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
Finally, bystanders pulled the men apart.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
When the conductor arrived at the scene, Goetz played the Good Samaritan, checking to make sure bystanders in the train car were unharmed.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Some of the victims were intentionally targeted, but the majority were innocent bystanders, Kapszukiewicz said.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Next to a convenience store just outside police tape, a small group of bystanders watched officers survey the area.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Once down, bystanders quickly rushed to his aid.
—Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
Two bystanders intervened after hearing the woman’s cries for help, deputies said.
—Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026
Several friends dragged Andrade back to shore, while one held his airway together with their hands, and strangers and bystanders helped keep him alive until emergency services arrived.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
Finally, bystanders pulled the men apart.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
When the conductor arrived at the scene, Goetz played the Good Samaritan, checking to make sure bystanders in the train car were unharmed.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bystanders
Noun
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The striking cosmic phenomenon presents spectators with a rare opportunity to see multiple planets appear close together in the night sky – at least, from Earth's vantage.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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But rodeo attendees include hundreds of out-of-state cowboys and thousands of spectators, who come from across the country for calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, and the Pony Express, an eight-man relay race on horseback, which originated at Oklahoma rodeos in the early 1970s.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Noun
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And Armenia’s path to greater integration with Europe is not expected to be an easy one, observers say.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
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For many observers, that represents soccer’s arrival in the United States.—
Jonathan Grella,
Boston Herald,
8 June 2026
Noun
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The 79th Tony Awards telecast kicked off with a bang by giving out two major awards in the first 30 minutes — and before viewers could blink both John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf had each won the third Tony Award of their careers.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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Millions of viewers from around the world watch the bears in real time on the zoo’s Panda Cam.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bystanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bystanders. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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